Israel says Palestinians smuggling anti-aircraft missiles

Monday, March 28, 2005 |

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has accused the Palestinians of smuggling Strela anti-aircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip. Mofaz told the Cabinet that the weapons were smuggled in by Palestinian military intelligence through tunnels from Egypt. Anti-aircraft missiles could upset the balance of power in Gaza because they could be used against Israeli military helicopters or worse, for terror attacks against civilian airliners. If the Palestinians don't get hold of the Strelas, we will," Mofaz said. Despite the enormous danger, Israel intends to pull out of the strategic Philadelphia Corridor as part of its withdrawal from Gaza this summer. The corridor is a haven for weapons smuggling used to fuel the Palestinian terror war for the past four and a half years.

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